Perry's book is a timely reminder of histories forgotten and voices unremembered.”- Journal of American History “As a concise look at twentieth-century black activism through the lens of one composition, the book works exceedingly well. “Excellently researched and sourced.”- Michigan Historical Review expertly sifts through the layers of black civic, social and cultural history that are inextricably linked to ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing.’”- San Francisco Chronicle “Through extensive research and eloquent writing, Perry. Highly recommended."- Library Journal, starred review "Perry provides exegesis and exhortation in explaining how a song captured a culture, and in turn became a cultural captive held fast by emotional ties of a diverse people hers is a work for adolescents and academics, indeed for any readers interested in at least glimpsing a sense of a pulsing, resilient black consciousness. Drawing on a wide array of sources, Perry uses "Lift Every Voice and Sing" as a window on the powerful ways African Americans have used music and culture to organize, mourn, challenge, and celebrate for more than a century.
In this rich, poignant, and readable work, Imani Perry tells the story of the Black National Anthem as it traveled from South to North, from civil rights to black power, and from countless family reunions to Carnegie Hall and the Oval Office. Since the song's creation, it has been adopted by the NAACP and performed by countless artists in times of both crisis and celebration, cementing its place in African American life up through the present day. With lyrics penned by James Weldon Johnson and music composed by his brother Rosamond, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was embraced almost immediately as an anthem that captured the story and the aspirations of black Americans. May We Forever Stand tells an essential part of that story. It is reconnecting young black people with their inspirational ancestors and endowing to white Americans with an unforgettable, visceral understanding of what it takes to overcome.The twin acts of singing and fighting for freedom have been inseparable in African American history. A powerful telling of that story, a song from 1900 titled “ Lift Every Voice and Sing,” is being embraced by a new generation.
While the experiences of one person of the past are no more important than those of another person in the present, who we are inarguably has to do with who they were as handed down through the lessons of our parents, grandparents, and so on. Certainly, few young whites can imagine what it felt like to carry such a burden. After all, today’s America supplies enough injustice that there’s no need to dredge up the painful experiences of long ago as a reminder of oppression. Ask someone from the United States and the answer is likely to be along the lines of “4th Street.” It’s reasonable to ask, as some have, just how connected young black Americans feel to their descendants’ experiences of slavery. It’s been said that if you ask a European where their people come from, the answer will be a list of countries dating back generations. Modern memories tend to be short, particularly in America.
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